U.S. Army Reserve Training center relocating

June 15, 2011

by Nicholas Zarrelli

After more than 60 years of service, the Army Reserve Training Center located at 90 North Main Ave. will soon vacate its Pine Hills building and relocate to the city of Schenectady. The future tenants of the building have not yet been determined.

The Training Center will move to 1201 Hillside Ave. in Schenectady, next door to the military buildings in place there already. The new training center is projected to be up and running by the fall of 2013.

Since the 1950s, the Albany training center is where the area Medical and Judge Advocate

Front Entrance at 90 N. Main (Nicholas Zarrelli)

General Officers have met once a month for a weekend of training. Since the center opened, these have been the primary units that have used the building. The center is located on prime city real estate, wrapped around the corner of Main and Washington, adjacent to Albany High School’s athletic fields on Main and its front door on Washington.

Aside from the one weekend a month that the Medical and JAG units receive training, only two full-time employees occupy the building: Sergeant First Class Michael Moseman and Unit Administrator Charlene Kotska.

SFC Moseman’s job title is the Army Reserve Career Counselor of the Army Reserve Careers Division Region 1. Basically, his duty is to advise those with questions about their careers in the Army Reserve and to help those who want to advance their career in the military.

Serving in logistics for 20 years prior, SFC Moseman jumped at this career opportunity presented to him nearly a decade ago.

“I have been many places and experienced a lot in 24 years with the US Army and Army Reserves.” said Moseman. “I’ve enjoyed all of it and couldn’t think of anything else I would rather do for a living.”

The other full-time employee, Charlene Kotska, has been with the Training Center since 1992. Her duties include administration for the building as well as maintaining the personal finances for the Reserves assigned to the center. She is quite excited to move to a new facility.

(Nicholas Zarrelli)

“This building has been here since the 1950’s and not much has been done to it since then,” said Kotska.

Those who enlist in the reserves sign a minimum contract of six years with the Army, which also includes an extra two years of eligibility if the military is in need of their service. During the first six years, the Reserves are required to meet one weekend a month and two weeks straight at some point in the year. Army Reserve Sergeant Greg Brooks, a 27D paralegal specialist, will be spending his next two weeks in Germany for his annual training.

Sergeant Brooks, 32, had first enlisted in the Army at the age of 18. After he had served, he took a hiatus from the military for several years.

“I actually joined as active duty in 1996 as a 19D Cavalry Scout for three years. I got out for about seven years,” Brooks said. “In early 2007, I decided I wanted more to do in my life, and joined the Army Reserve til present.”

Brooks chose the Army because they were the first to contact him when he graduated. The Navy appealed to Brooks the most, but the Army had been persistent and he committed after speaking with a recruiter.

“My training as a 27D Paralegal Specialist is to provide legal and administrative support to

(Nicholas Zarrelli)

the JAG Officers in my unit. I mostly prepare and process legal documents during my two weeks a year. On occasion, I’ll work on power of attorney, wills, and last rights for Soldiers going overseas, or helping with briefings for Soldiers upon return from overseas concerning their rights in transitioning back home. Most weekends are spent sitting in classes where we review understandings of our job skills,” said Brooks.

Some soldiers may choose to relocate to another Reserve Facility, but all of the current units will call the new training center “home” for their required training times. The new training center will have a gym for the soldiers and a large classroom with state of the art video equipment for conducting training. Both full time employees see the move as a great opportunity. Not only will they be in a new, state of the art facility, but they will be working with other military personnel. -30-